Packaging for disc media

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns a packaging for disc media comprising a cover and at least a support for a disc whereto is attached a booklet. The invention is characterised in that the disc support ( 4 ) comprises means for removably securing the booklet ( 6 ), provided with eyelets ( 7 ), to the support, inside the case. The invention is useful for enhancing presentation enabling the booklet to be read inside or outside the case.

[0001] The present invention relates to a package, small box or packaging for disks for the purpose of their transport, protection and storage, and in particular, but not exclusively, for laser-read digital optical disks.

[0002] It is known that such information media, because of their capacity to store a large number of data, are developing very rapidly, whether as video or audio DVDs, CD-ROMs, CD-RAMs, audio CDs, etc.

[0003] Different packagings for storage and protection have already been proposed and are currently used. The most common consist of small transparent boxes, generally made of polystyrene, which have a support suitable for receiving a disk, it being possible for this support to be closed by a cover articulated on an edge of the support.

[0004] Already proposed in order to reduce the cost of the package is the grouping of several disks inside the same box made of transparent plastic material. Also known is the replacement of this plastic material by a cardboard box which can be printed on easily, the disk being included in a pocket, or by a plastic support with a central rosette-shaped structure as in the earlier boxes.

[0005] Now the more disks the box contains, the greater is the need for printed documents in order to access to the necessary information as needed without recourse printouts using a printer, in the case of use on a computer. Therefore the thickness of the accompanying booklet, which often must begin several languages, increases. The disk itself is in essence flat and not very thick.

[0006] A first object of the invention is to remedy this drawback and to allow introduction of mounting for even a thick booklet inside the box.

[0007] A second object of the invention is to permit removing the booklet is a simple way or consulting it while inside the box, with laying of the booklet in the box capable of being effected automatically.

[0008] According to the invention, the box, particularly for digital optical disks, having at least one disk support, a cover that can be folded over having a spine and two panels articulated on two sides of the spine, at least one of the panels being over the support, is characterized by the fact that, on the support or on an internal surface of the spine, there is some means of removable connection of a booklet, which has eyelets, to the support, inside of the box.

[0009] Removable connection should be understood to mean the arrangement according to which the booklet is normally kept in and can be consulted in the box, but can be extracted from it to facilitate reading. The booklet is provided with eyelets consisting of metallic loops that project with respect to the edge of the booklet, these eyelets being inserted into said means.

[0010] According to another characteristic of the invention, in the case in which the support is articulated on the spine, the means of connection are formed in an articulation rail rigidly connected to said internal surface of the spine.

[0011] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear in the course of the following description of a particular embodiment, given only as a non-limiting example, with reference to the drawings that represent:

[0012]FIG. 1, an oblique view of a first embodiment;

[0013]FIGS. 1A and 1B, views of details;

[0014]FIG. 2, a second embodiment in which the booklet is articulated on the fixed disk support, FIG. 2A being a view of a detail;

[0015]FIG. 3, another embodiment, FIG. 3A being a view of a detail of the hooking.

[0016] The examples shown represent a box of the audio CD type, but the invention of course applies to any other format, and particularly to boxes or packages with the videocassette format. The same references designate the same elements in all of the figures.

[0017] In FIG. 1, it is seen that the box designated generally by the reference 10 has a cover made up of spine 3 and panels 1 and 2 which can be folded one over another by means of two lines of lesser thickness, constituting hinges, formed between panels 1 and 2 and two opposite sides of spine 3 of the box. The covering is preferably made of cardboard which enables its four surfaces to be printed and decorated.

[0018] In the example represented in FIG. 1, rail 5 for articulation of disk support 4 is glued against the internal surface of spine 3 of the cover. This known arrangement makes it possible to put two disks on the recto and verso, respectively, of a single support 4, with it being possible for several supports to be mounted in the box in this way, the width of the back being provided, as a consequence, such that panels 1 and 2 fold flat parallel to one another.

[0019] Also mounted in the box is booklet 6, which is normally applied against the internal surface of panel 1. Booklet 6 generally has several sheets folded in two and slipped one inside the other. The folding lines of these sheets are all arranged along spine 3 when booklet 6 is mounted in the box. These folding lines constitute the edge of booklet 6. Booklet 6 also has eyelets 7, which in the example represented are 2 in number.

[0020] These eyelets 7 are formed by folded metallic rods a few tenths of a millimeter in diameter. Each of these rods has straight opposite end parts connected by a central U-shaped part.

[0021] The end parts are inserted in the edge of booklet 6, the central U-shaped parts projecting with respect to the edge of booklet 6.

[0022] In an embodiment variant, eyelets 7 can be formed by folding the same metallic wire.

[0023] As is shown in FIG. 1A, eyelet 7 is introduced in gripper 8 formed by in notch 9 molded rail 5. In the resting state, the jaws of gripper 8 are a distance apart which is less than the diameter of the wire constituting eyelet 7. During mounting of the booklet in-the box, pressure exerted on the booklet, and as a result on the eyelet, separates the jaws which close again after passage of the wire. In the example represented in FIG. 1, there are two grippers 8, but it is possible to provide a greater number when the box is not square but is rectangular.

[0024] Space 11 is provided between the jaws of gripper 8, allowing the booklet to assume the position represented in FIG. 1, or after pivoting 180° to come, still flat, against the accessible surface of support 4, it being possible in this way for the booklet to be read without detaching it from the box. This space 11 provides clearance for the upper part of eyelet 7 so that a flat position of the book or of some of its pages can always be obtained. On the other hand, booklet 6 can be extracted from the box by bringing it to a position perpendicular to the plane of the box and pulling, which allows the eyelets to escape the grippers.

[0025] As represented in FIG. 1B, rail 5 has a longitudinal groove in which pivot pins 14 are clipped. That is to say that the upper surface (in the figure) of support 4 can come to be applied against the cover of booklet 6.

[0026] In the case in which the disk support is glued on the internal surface of one of the panels of the cover, for example, on panel 2, the eyelets must be attached, still in a removable manner, on the support itself. To this effect recesses 12 are provided in support 4. In FIG. 2, tabs 13 extend over cavity 12, the distance between their opposing crests being, as in the preceding, less than the diameter of the wire constituting eyelets 7, so as to form a friction point during insertion of the eyelets in cavities 12. Once this point has been passed, eyelets 7 have a certain freedom inside cavities 12. Tabs 13 in any case remain at a lower level than that of the surface of the support.

[0027] In the embodiment represented in FIG. 3 and in the view of a detail 3A, the two tabs 13 have been replaced by single tab 15 projecting inside recess 12 but still below the upper plane of support 4. Under these conditions, insertion of the eyelets must be done laterally to the tab, and no longer perpendicularly to the jaws.

[0028] Although the preceding description was given considering a square box as an example, it can of course be used with a rectangular box or a box of any other shape. Likewise, hooking of the booklet can be done on any side of the disk support, or on a rail parallel to the longitudinal direction of the box in the case of a rectangular box. It is possible, for example, to hook a first part of the booklet on the upper edge of the support and a second part on the side at right angles to it, the thicknesses of course being adapted so that the whole folds flat inside the cover.

[0029] It goes without saying that numerous variants can be contributed, particularly by substitution of equivalent technical means, without consequently departing from the scope of the invention. 

1. Packaging, particularly for digital optical disks, having at least one disk support (4), a cover having spine (3) and two panels (1, 2) articulated on two opposite sides of spine (3), at least one of panels (1, 2) being foldable over support (4), characterized by the fact that it has, on support (4) or on an internal surface of spine (3), some means of removable connection of booklet (6), which has eyelets (7), with the support or with the cover, inside of box (10).
 2. Packaging according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that in the case in which support (4) is articulated on spine (3), the means of connection are formed in articulation rail (5) rigidly connected to said internal surface of spine (3).
 3. Packaging according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that articulation rail (5) has at least one notch (9) in which are made to project two elastic jaws of gripper (8), these jaws being a distance apart which is less than the diameter of the wire constituting eyelet (7) which projects with respect to booklet (6).
 4. Packaging according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that cavities (12) are formed in the edge of disk support (4), the upper end of eyelets (7) penetrating inside said cavities by forcing holding means (13, 15).
 5. Packaging according to claim 4, characterized by the fact that the holding means is made up of two tabs (13), parallel to the plane of support (4), inside cavity (12).
 6. Packaging according to claim 4, characterized by the fact that the holding means is made up of a tab (15) projecting inside each cavity (12).
 7. Packaging according to claims 1 and 2, characterized by the fact that the cover has at least two panels (1, 2) articulated on spine (3), rail (5) being glued on the internal surface of the spine.
 8. Packaging according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the cover is made of cardboard, the disk supports being made of plastic material. 